Modular apparatus of fuel cell system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10651487-B2
Application number	US-201715817297-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 20, 2017
Priority date	Nov 20, 2017
Publication date	May 12, 2020
Grant date	May 12, 2020

Abstract

A modular apparatus of fuel cell system includes a start burner, a reformer, an after-burner, and a heat exchanger. The start burner, the reformer, the after-burner, and the heat exchanger are disposed in a chamber. The start burner is surrounded by the reformer, and the after-burner is disposed on the start burner and surrounds the reformer. The heat exchanger surrounds the after-burner and the reformer.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A modular apparatus of fuel cell comprising:
a start burner comprising a conical combustion chamber;
a reformer surrounding the start burner and comprising a steam generating chamber disposed above the start burner;
an after-burner disposed above the start burner and at least partially surrounding the reformer, the after-burner comprising a fuel dispersing chamber having a plurality of fuel output holes; and
a heat exchanger comprising a coiled pipe structure surrounding the after-burner and the reformer,
wherein the start burner, the reformer, the after-burner, and the heat exchanger are disposed in a chamber.

2. The modular apparatus of fuel cell system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the start burner further comprises:
a first air input pipe, disposed at a bottom portion of the conical combustion chamber;
a first fuel input pipe, disposed in the first air input pipe; and
a first tail gas exhaust pipe, disposed at an upper portion of the conical combustion chamber.

3. The modular apparatus of fuel cell system as recited in claim 2 , wherein the start burner further comprises a gas dispersion cover installed at a tail portion of the first air input pipe, such that an intake direction of an air is perpendicular to or approximately perpendicular to an extending direction of the first fuel input pipe.

4. The modular apparatus of fuel cell system as recited in claim 2 , wherein the after-burner further comprises:
a mixing combustion chamber in which the fuel dispersing chamber is disposed;
a third fuel input pipe connected to a top surface of the fuel dispersing chamber;
a second air input pipe connected to a side surface of the mixing combustion chamber; and
a second tail gas exhaust pipe connected to a bottom surface of the mixing combustion chamber.

5. The modular apparatus of fuel cell system as recited in claim 4 , wherein the fuel dispersing chamber is a circular structure, and the fuel output holes are disposed at a periphery of the circular structure.

6. The modular apparatus of fuel cell system as recited in claim 4 , wherein the after-burner further comprises a fuel-adjusting pipe communicated with the third fuel input pipe.

7. The modular apparatus of fuel cell system as recited in claim 4 , wherein the second tail gas exhaust pipe is communicated with the first tail gas exhaust pipe.

8. The modular apparatus of fuel cell system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the reformer further comprises:
a water input pipe extending from a bottom portion of the start burner and connecting to the steam generating chamber;
a fuel mixing chamber of the reformer surrounding the bottom portion of the start burner;
a steam input pipe connecting the steam generating chamber with the fuel mixing chamber of the reformer;
a reformed gas mixing chamber disposed above the steam generating chamber;
at least one reforming chamber connecting the fuel mixing chamber of the reformer and the reformed gas mixing chamber, wherein a catalyst is disposed in the reforming chamber;
a second fuel input pipe connected to the fuel mixing chamber of the reformer; and
a reformed gas exhaust pipe connected to the reformed gas mixing chamber.

9. The modular apparatus of fuel cell system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the after-burner further comprises:
a mixing combustion chamber in which the fuel dispersing chamber is disposed;
a third fuel input pipe connected to a top surface of the fuel dispersing chamber;
a second air input pipe connected to a side surface of the mixing combustion chamber; and
a second tail gas exhaust pipe connected to a bottom surface of the mixing combustion chamber.

10. The modular apparatus of fuel cell system as recited in claim 9 , wherein the fuel dispersing chamber is a circular structure, and the fuel output holes are disposed at a periphery of the circular structure.

11. The modular apparatus of fuel cell system as recited in claim 9 , wherein the after-burner further comprises a fuel-adjusting pipe communicated with the third fuel input pipe.

12. The modular apparatus of fuel cell system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the is a coiled pipe structure circles along an inner side of the chamber, and the heat exchanger has a cold air input port and a hot air output port.

13. The modular apparatus of fuel cell system as recited in claim 12 , wherein the cold air input port is disposed at a bottom portion of the chamber, and the hot air output port is disposed at a top portion of the chamber.

Assignees

• Ind Tech Res Inst

Inventors

• Yang Cheng-Hao
• Lin Heng-Ju
• Ting Fu-Pin
• Huang Jar-Lu
• Lyu Jia-Syun

Classifications

• H01M2008/1293

  Fuel cells with solid oxide electrolytes · CPC title

• H01M8/04074 Primary

  Heat exchange unit structures specially adapted for fuel cell · CPC title

• H01M8/04738

  of auxiliary devices, e.g. reformer, compressor, burner · CPC title

• H01M8/04201

  Reactant storage and supply, e.g. means for feeding, pipes · CPC title

• H01M8/22

  Fuel cells in which the fuel is based on materials comprising carbon or oxygen or hydrogen and other elements; Fuel cells in which the fuel is based on materials comprising only elements other than carbon, oxygen or hydrogen · CPC title